Health Problems and Erectile Dysfunction Are Linked
More than 18 million men in the US are affected by erectile dysfunction, says a report from the American Journal of Medicine.
The problem is particularly acute among men with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and those who get little exercise, say researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
"The association of erectile dysfunction with diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors can serve as a powerful motivator for men in whom diet and lifestyle changes are really indicated," says study author Elizabeth Selvin, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins.
"If you control your diabetes, and treat existing risk factors and do things to prevent diabetes and control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, not only will you reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but you will also improve your sexual function," she says.
In the study, Dr. Selvin's team collected data on more than 2,100 men who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Men who said they were "sometimes able" or "never able" to achieve and keep an erection were classified as having erectile dysfunction, while men who said they were "always or almost always able" or "usually able" were not.
"There is a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction among men with cardiovascular risk factors and men with diabetes," says Dr. Selvin. "Screening for erectile dysfunction among men with hypertension and diabetes may be important.”
The researchers found that the overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction among US men was just over 18 percent.
Age was a strong risk factor - men 70 and older accounted for 70 percent of those with erectile dysfunction. In contrast, just 5 percent of men with erectile problems were between the ages of 20 and 40.
Erectile dysfunction was especially linked to diabetes.
"It's important for physicians to know that more than 50 percent of their male diabetic patients are affected by erectile dysfunction," notes Dr. Selvin.
In addition, almost 90 percent of men with erectile dysfunction had at least one risk factor for heart disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoking.
"Moreover, men who are physically inactive and had high rates of sedentary behavior, such as watching three or more hours of TV per day, were much more likely to have erectile dysfunction compared with men who were physically active," explains Dr. Selvin, so, "increasing exercise may be an effective non-pharmacologic treatment."
One expert agreed that erectile dysfunction is a widespread problem.
"This study reiterates what we know, that erectile dysfunction is highly prevalent in the Unites States," says Dr. Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Dr. Sadeghi-Nejad believes that physicians should screen men for erectile dysfunction.
"It's an important quality-of-life issue, and the factors that help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes may help decrease erectile dysfunction," he adds.
By changing lifestyle and treating underlying heart disease and diabetes, you can decrease the chances of developing erectile dysfunction, notes Dr. Sadeghi-Nejad. "Erectile dysfunction is not a mandatory side effect of aging. Don't think of it as a normal process of aging."
Always consult your physician for more information.
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Impotence, or erectile dysfunction (ED), may result from the total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, or the ability to only sustain a brief erection.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 15 million to 30 million men are affected by ED, depending on the definition used.
Although in the past it was commonly believed to be due to psychological problems, it is now known that 80 percent to 90 percent of impotence is caused by physical problems, usually related to the blood supply of the penis.
Many advances have occurred in both diagnosis and treatment of ED.
Erectile dysfunction can cause strain on a couple. Many times, men will avoid sexual situations due to the emotional pain associated with ED, causing their partner to feel rejected or inadequate.
It is important to communicate openly with your partner. Some couples consider seeking treatment for ED together, while other men prefer to seek treatment without their partner's knowledge.
A lack of communication is the primary barrier for seeking treatment, and can prolong the suffering.
The loss of erectile capacity can have a profound effect on a man. The good news is that ED can usually be treated safely and effectively.
Feeling embarrassed about being impotent may prevent many men from seeking the medical attention they need, which can delay diagnosis and treatment for more serious underlying conditions.
Impotence itself is often related to an underlying problem, such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, or other medical conditions.
Since impotence can be a forewarning symptom of progressive coronary disease, men should tell their physicians about their symptoms of ED.
Physicians may ask directly about sexual function, through conversation or a questionnaire during a check-up, in order to detect more serious health conditions sooner.
Always consult your physician for more information.
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